Anatom3DTendon sheath of extensor pollicis longus
Vagina tendinis musculi extensoris pollicis longi · Pochva šlachy dlouhého natahovače palce
Joints & cartilage
Looks like
The sleeve around the tendon that straightens the thumb tip, turning round a bony bump (Lister's tubercle) on the back of the wrist.
What it does
Lets the tendon glide round its pulley.
Keeping it well
The tendon can rupture weeks after a wrist fracture; sudden inability to lift the thumb needs a hand surgeon.
Related conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Dupuytren's contracture & trigger finger
- Ganglion cyst
- Gout
- Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Lyme disease
- Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
- Osteoarthritis
- Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- Repetitive strain & overuse injury
- Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Temporomandibular joint disorder